Study project (MAcc)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The most basic principle of agency theory is that an individual will always serve his own interest best. According to Eisenhardt (1989) agency theory describes individuals as rational, risk averse en motivated by egotism. Agency theory also deals with the conflict that exists between different parties in an organization due to people's egoism. This self-interest can lead to goal incongruence if a person is placed in an environment where he has to serve somebody else's interest. Ownership and management vested in the same party until about 130 years ago. These roles were however separated with the development of the modem organization. The principal or owner is now represented by the shareholder and management serves as the agent. The principal thus appoints the agent to serve and manage his interest in the organization optimally. The principal's goal is the maximising of his shareholders' wealth. The agent's goal to carry out his task with the minimum effort and or to obtain maximum benefit for himself. It is thus clear that the goals of the principal and agent might often differ and this will give rise to goal Incongruence. This goal incongruence may give rise to some managerial actions which will be detrimental to optimal value of the company. The agency conflict, which is caused by man's self interest, manifests in the modem organization in a number of ways. These are referred to agency problems in this assignment. Agency problems are found both on a micro- and macroeconomical level. Agency cost is the sum of the difference between the real and optimal value of the company, the monitoring costs of the principal and the bonding costs of the agent. This cost is to the disadvantage of the principal and might even be to the disadvantage of the agent. It is thus essential that agency conflict and agency costs are reduced to a minimum. A number of measures are taken to address the agency problems and to reduce their negative effect on the organization. None of these measures will be efficient enough ifused in isolation. An optimal combination of solutions will depend on the company's specific circumstances. An empirical study was conducted to determine to what extent the agency problems manifest during the demutualisation of a big insurance business. The measures taken to address these problems were also investigated as well as the extent to which these were successful. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die basiese aanname van agentskapsteorie is dat die individu sy selfbelang altyd eerste sal stel. Volgens Eisenhardt (1989) beskryf agentskapsteorie individue as rasioneel, risikoongeneigd en gemotiveer deur selfbelang. Agentskapsteorie handel verder oor die konflik wat tussen die verskillende belanghebbende partye binne 'n organisasie as gevolg van persone se selfbelang ontstaan. Hierdie selfbelang van die mens kan lei tot doelwitinkongruensie, indien die persoon in 'n omgewing geplaas word waar daar van hom verwag word om 'n ander se belange te dien. Eienaarskap en bestuur was tot ongeveer 130 jaar gelede gevestig in dieselfde party. Met die totstandkoming van die moderne onderneming, is hierdie rolle egter geskei. Die prinsipaal of eienaar word nou verteenwoordig deur die aandeelhouer en die bestuur dien as die agent. Die prinsipaal stel dus die agent aan om na sy belang in die onderneming om te sien en dit optimaal te bestuur. Die prinsipaal se doel is die maksimering van sy aandeelhouerswelvaart. Die agent poog om sy taak met minimale inspanning te voltooi en of uitsonderlike voordeel vir homself te behaal. Dit is duidelik dat die prinsipaal en agent se doelwitte meermale sal verskil en doelwitinkongruensie ontstaan dus. Hierdie doelwitinkongruensie word vergestalt in sekere aksies wat bestuur soms neem en wat daartoe lei dat die optimale waarde van die firma nie bereik word nie. Die agentskapskonflik wat as gevolg van die partye se selfbelang ontstaan manifesteer in die moderne onderneming op 'n verskeidenheid van wyses, wat in hierdie werkstuk as agenskapsprobleme gedefinieer word. Agentskapsprobleme kom op 'n mikro- sowel as op 'n makro-ekonomiese vlak voor. Die verskil tussen die werklike en optimale waarde van die organisasie, plus die prinsipaal se moniteringskoste en die agent se gebondenheidskoste, verteenwoordig agentskapskoste. Hierdie koste strek tot die nadeel van die eienaars en meermale ook tot die nadeel van die bestuur. Dit is dus noodsaaklik dat agentskapskonflik en die gepaardgaande agentskapskoste tot 'n minimum beperk word. Daar word van 'n verskeidenheid van maatreëls gebruik gemaak ten einde die agenskapsprobleme aan te spreek en hul negatiewe impak op die onderneming te versag. Nie een van hierdie oplossings kan in isolasie gebruik gemaak word nie en afhangend van die onderneming se spesifieke omstandighede, sal daar hoogstens 'n optimale kombinasie van oplossings ontwikkel kan word. Daar is vervolgens in hierdie werkstuk 'n empiriese ondersoek uitgevoer ten einde te bepaal in hoe 'n mate die agenskapsprobleme tydens die demutualisering van 'n groot versekeringsonderneming manifesteer. Die neem van regstellende stappe om hierdie probleem aan te spreek is ondersoek, sowel as die mate waartoe hierdie maatreëls suksesvol was al dan nie.

Este trabalho examina a disciplina legal da remuneração dos administradores das sociedades anônimas. A análise é feita a partir de três perspectivas: (i) a dos incentivos que as estruturas de remuneração podem gerar ao desempenho dos administradores; (ii) a dos problemas e conflitos que a remuneração pode causar, notadamente entre os acionistas controladores e os não controladores, bem como entre os administradores e os acionistas; e (iii) a das soluções que a remuneração proporciona, sobretudo ao alinhar os interesses dos administradores com os da companhia e dos acionistas. Entre os objetivos esperados estão a contribuição para as discussões teóricas sobre a remuneração dos administradores e o aperfeiçoamento da aplicação da sua disciplina legal. Para tanto, serão de especial importância os comentários sobre a necessidade de aprimoramento das práticas de governança corporativa, em particular (i) a transparência, como mitigador de assimetria informacional e indutor de comportamentos adequados; e (ii) o comitê de remuneração, como elemento agregador de independência e redutor dos conflitos de interesse. Do ponto de vista estrutural, o trabalho divide-se em 6 capítulos. O primeiro contextualiza a importância da discussão teórica sobre o tema à luz de três recentes eventos: (i) a edição da Instrução CVM nº 480, de 2009; (ii) o crescimento do mercado de capitais brasileiro; e (iii) a dispersão da propriedade acionária observada em algumas companhias e a relação entre essa dispersão e a remuneração dos administradores. O segundo capítulo faz uma incursão na discussão sobre a remuneração dos administradores nos Estados Unidos, tratando dos problemas de agência e da remuneração como solução parcial para os referidos problemas ou parte integrante deles. O terceiro capítulo cuida da disciplina da remuneração dos administradores na Lei nº 6.404, de 1976. Os capítulos 4 e 5 tratam de modo específico de duas das modalidades de remuneração historicamente mais importantes nas companhias brasileiras: a participação nos lucros e a remuneração baseada em ações, particularmente as opções de compra de ações. Por fim, o sexto capítulo fecha o trabalho com considerações finais sobre a análise realizada e sobre as reflexões e estudos ainda a serem conduzidos. / The aim of this study is to examine the legal framework of executive compensation in Brazilian corporations. The analysis is conducted from three perspectives: (i) the incentives that compensation structures can create towards the enhancement of executives performance; (ii) the problems and conflicts arising from compensation schemes, particularly between controlling and non-controlling shareholders, as well as between managers and shareholders in general; and (iii) the solutions provided by compensation schemes, especially by aligning the interests of managers with those of the company and its shareholders. Some of its intended objectives are contributing to theoretical discussions about executive compensation and improving the application of its legal framework. For these purposes, comments on the need for improvement of corporate governance practices are noteworthy, particularly when it comes to: (i) disclosure, as a measure capable of mitigating information asymmetry and inducing appropriate behavior; and (ii) the compensation committee, as an element capable of promoting independence and reducing conflicts of interest. In terms of structure, this study is divided into six (6) chapters. The first chapter contextualizes the importance of theoretical discussion on the topic, taking into account three recent events: (i) the issue of CVM Instruction No. 480, of 2009, by the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission; (ii) the growth of the Brazilian capital market; and (iii) the ongoing shareholding dispersion noticed in some companies and the relationship between such dispersion and executive pay. The second chapter tours the discussion about executive compensation in the United States, dealing with agency problems and with compensation schemes as either part of such problems or a partial remedy to them. The third chapter addresses the legal framework of executive compensation as established by Law No. 6,404, of 1976. Chapters 4 and 5 encompass two specific compensation schemes among the most historically important ones for Brazilian companies: profit sharing and equity-based compensation, particularly stock options. At last, Chapter 6 concludes this study with final remarks on the analysis conducted herein and on the reflections and studies to be yet carried out.

A sucessão na empresa familiar tem sido considerada por seus estudiosos como o mais importante desafio a ser enfrentado por aquelas companhias na luta por sua perpetuação. Os processos de transição do controle da família enfrentam várias dificuldades típicas de qualquer transição gerencial ou de propriedade na firma, mas são complicados por fatores subjetivos presentes na interação das dinâmicas empresarial e familiar. Nas sucessões familiares os conflitos emergem, frequentemente, da indiscriminação entre os papéis sociais na família e na empresa. Tais conflitos envolvem questões ligadas à propriedade do negócio, à sua administração e aos interesses da família. A Nova Economia das Instituições adicionou ao corpo teórico das finanças corporativas uma série de variáveis comportamentais desconsideradas pela Economia Neoclássica com o objetivo de imprimir maior realismo às análises teóricas. O presente trabalho investiga as proposições da Teoria Econômica de Finanças para o comportamento dos administradores quanto à escolha da Estrutura de Capital na firma e sua utilidade para os Processos Sucessórios como elemento atenuante de conflitos. As conclusões apontam para uma interdependência entre decisões de Estrutura de Capital e Processo Sucessório, e para uma grande importância da forma de financiamento no longo prazo para o sucesso da Sucessão na Empresa Familiar, além de sugerirem pesquisas mais avançadas no sentido de compreender melhor esse contexto. / Experts consider the process of succession in the family business as the most important challenge in their fight for perpetuation. The transition processes encounter various difficulties common to managerial transitions, yet they are made more complicated due to subjective factors present in both the family and management arenas. During succession processes, conflicts often arise out of a difficulty to differentiate between social and business roles in the family. Such conflicts involve issues such as ownership, management styles and family interests. The New Institutional Economics added a series of behavior variables to the theoretical body of corporate finance. Such variables, previously not considered by the Neoclassic Economics, were added so as to bring a higher level of realism to the theoretical analysis. This dissertation investigates the propositions put forward by the Economic Theory of Finance regarding the behavior of managers as far as their choice of Capital Structure for the business and its validity as conflict attenuation in the process of Succession. The conclusions put forward here point toward an interdependency between decisions regarding Capital Structure and Succession in the Family Business. In addition to that, they highlight the importance of long term financing for a successful process, and suggest further investigation that could support and illustrate the conclusions.

Cette thèse s’interesse à l’étude des effets des sociétés de Capital-Investissement (SCI) sur la performance des introductions en bourse. La démarche suivie pour argumenter cette thèse nous a conduits, dans une première partie, à justifier notre positionnement théorique et à définir nos hypothèses de recherche. Cette étape nous a orientée vers l’analyse des caractéristiques des introductions en bourse et l’analyse du rôle des SCI notamment sur le marché des introductions en bourse. Nous avons construit une argumentation autour du rôle des SCI en matière de résolution des asyémtries informationnelles caractérisant les sociétés introduites en bourse. Les SCI, étant dotées d’une capacité à concevoir des contrats, d’un réseau de connaissance et d’une expertise, pourraient atténuer les conflits d’agence et émettre un signal positif sur le marché d’IPOs. En revanche, ces sociétés pourraient se retrouver face au problème de sélection adverse au moment de la décision d’investissement et/ou adopter un comportement opportuniste pour servir leurs intérêts. La vérification empirique de cette problèmatique est développée dans la deuxième partie de notre thèse. Elle consiste à comparer la performance à court et à long terme des sociétés financées de celles non financées par CI, ensuite analyser cette performance en foction de l’affiliation institutionnelle des SCI et enfin, expliquer cette performance en fonction de la réputation des SCI et des stratégies d’intermédiation de celles-ci, notamment la syndication, le financement séquentiel et la distribution des droits aux cash-flows et au contrôle / In this dissertation, it is tried to understand the effects of Venture Capital Firms (VCF) on the performance of VC-backed listed companies in France. To do this research, we try to develop, in the first part, theoretical framework and define research hypothesis. This part leads us to examine characteristics of initial public offerings (IPOs) and the role of venture capitalists particularly in conducting an IPO. We develop the argument around the role of VCF in resolving informational problems, characteristics of IPO’s market. A VCF, being specialists to draw up contract with entrepreneurs and possessing expertise and knowledge network, could diminish conflicts of interests and certify IPOs. However, these firms could run a problem of adverse selection and/or adopt opportunistic behaviour to serve their own interests. The empirical validation of this problem is dealt with in second part of this dissertation. It consists, in first place, to compare performance of VC backing IPOs to Non-VC backing IPOs. In second place, we determine the relation between the performance of VC backing IPOs and the institutional affiliation of VCF. In last part, we test explanatory power of reputation of VCF and their mechanisms of intermediation, particularly, syndication, staged financing and distribution of cash-flows and control rights

Företags sociala ansvar (CSR) blir allt viktigare för både företag, dess intressenter och för samhället. CSR har enligt tidigare forskning visat både positiva och negativa effekter på bland annat företags finansiella prestation. Tidigare forskning har inriktat sig på CSR och dess påverkan på företags finansiella prestation utan ett konsekvent mått för den finansiella prestationen. I litteraturen har vi även identifierat ett gap i forskningen bland europeiska bolag. Syftet med studien är därför att undersöka relationen mellan företags arbete med Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, och investeringseffektivitet hos företag i Europa som redovisar i valutan Euro. / Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is becoming more important for companies, its stakeholders and for the community. Previous studies have shown both positive and negative effects of CSR on financial performance. Previous research has focused on CSR and its impact on the company's financial performance without a consistent measure of the financial performance. Among the previous studies, we have also identified a gap in research among European companies. Therefore the aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and investment efficiency among companies in Europe that reports in the currency Euro.

A sucessão na empresa familiar tem sido considerada por seus estudiosos como o mais importante desafio a ser enfrentado por aquelas companhias na luta por sua perpetuação. Os processos de transição do controle da família enfrentam várias dificuldades típicas de qualquer transição gerencial ou de propriedade na firma, mas são complicados por fatores subjetivos presentes na interação das dinâmicas empresarial e familiar. Nas sucessões familiares os conflitos emergem, frequentemente, da indiscriminação entre os papéis sociais na família e na empresa. Tais conflitos envolvem questões ligadas à propriedade do negócio, à sua administração e aos interesses da família. A Nova Economia das Instituições adicionou ao corpo teórico das finanças corporativas uma série de variáveis comportamentais desconsideradas pela Economia Neoclássica com o objetivo de imprimir maior realismo às análises teóricas. O presente trabalho investiga as proposições da Teoria Econômica de Finanças para o comportamento dos administradores quanto à escolha da Estrutura de Capital na firma e sua utilidade para os Processos Sucessórios como elemento atenuante de conflitos. As conclusões apontam para uma interdependência entre decisões de Estrutura de Capital e Processo Sucessório, e para uma grande importância da forma de financiamento no longo prazo para o sucesso da Sucessão na Empresa Familiar, além de sugerirem pesquisas mais avançadas no sentido de compreender melhor esse contexto. / Experts consider the process of succession in the family business as the most important challenge in their fight for perpetuation. The transition processes encounter various difficulties common to managerial transitions, yet they are made more complicated due to subjective factors present in both the family and management arenas. During succession processes, conflicts often arise out of a difficulty to differentiate between social and business roles in the family. Such conflicts involve issues such as ownership, management styles and family interests. The New Institutional Economics added a series of behavior variables to the theoretical body of corporate finance. Such variables, previously not considered by the Neoclassic Economics, were added so as to bring a higher level of realism to the theoretical analysis. This dissertation investigates the propositions put forward by the Economic Theory of Finance regarding the behavior of managers as far as their choice of Capital Structure for the business and its validity as conflict attenuation in the process of Succession. The conclusions put forward here point toward an interdependency between decisions regarding Capital Structure and Succession in the Family Business. In addition to that, they highlight the importance of long term financing for a successful process, and suggest further investigation that could support and illustrate the conclusions.

Texten i årsredovisningen är relativt oreglerad och utgör en möjlighet för företag att påverka investerarnas uppfattning om företaget genom ett narrativ som gynnar företagets mål och syften. Impression management och pollyannaeffekten används för att förklara varför företag tenderar att vara optimistiska kring sina prestationer och vill framställa sig på ett fördelaktigt sätt. Tidigare forskning inom impression management studerar generellt ägare som en homogen grupp. Studien kompletterar tidigare forskning inom impression management genom att undersöka familjeägandets påverkan på förekomsten av impression management. Familjeägare har starkare incitament att säkerställa att ledningen agerar i deras intresse baserat på deras unika karaktärsdrag i jämförelse med andra ägare, vilket minskar informationsasymmetrin mellan ledningen och ägare. Impression management undersöks genom en kvantitativ innehållsanalys av företagens VD-ord som undersöker framtoning, betoning och prestationsjämförelse. En undersökning av 100 slumpmässigt utvalda svenska börsnoterade företags VD-ord visar att samtliga företag presenterar övervägande positiv information. Studien visar även att familjeägda företag är mindre benägna att använda sig av impression management i jämförelse med icke-familjeägda företag. / The text in the annual report is relatively unregulated and constitutes an opportunity for firms to influence investors' perceptions of the company through a narrative that benefits the firm's objectives. Impression management and the Pollyanna effect are used to explain why firms tend to be optimistic about their performance and why they wish to present themselves in a self-serving way. Owners have in previous research on Impression management been treated as a homogenous group. This study complements previous Impression management research by examining the impact of family ownership on the prevalence of Impression management. Family owners have, in comparison to other owners, stronger incentives to ensure that managers act in the interest of the family based on the unique characteristics of family ownership, which reduces the information asymmetry between the management and family owner. Impression management is examined through a quantitative content analysis of companies' CEO letters. In specific, the content analysis examines the tone, emphasis and performance comparisons. The findings of 100 randomly selected Swedish public listed firms' CEO letters show that all firms communicate mainly positive information. The findings also show that firms owned by families are less prone to use impression management in comparison to non-family firms. This study is written in Swedish.

Submitted by Marco Tulio Padilha (tuliopadilha@hotmail.com) on 2014-12-23T14:36:38Z No. of bitstreams: 1 financas-Padilha-Projeto Entrega Final.pdf: 7936589 bytes, checksum: a4bbbf04a100d02d45ab1f91e604b6a4 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Luiza Holme (ana.holme@fgv.br) on 2014-12-23T14:38:49Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 financas-Padilha-Projeto Entrega Final.pdf: 7936589 bytes, checksum: a4bbbf04a100d02d45ab1f91e604b6a4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-23T15:32:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 financas-Padilha-Projeto Entrega Final.pdf: 7936589 bytes, checksum: a4bbbf04a100d02d45ab1f91e604b6a4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-11-28 / Based on a sample of 119 companies that voluntarily delisted between 1999-2013, we investigated agency problems and access to capital as possible determinants to the delisting, controlling for cost to maintain the company listed, undervaluation, size, and stock liquidity. Proxies related to agency problems, such as higher ownership concentration, combined to lower return on assets, have strong influence on the stock delisting, as well as free cash flow and dividend payout. Regarding the use of capital markets to access follow on, as well as access to debt, we find that companies that delisted have less need to access the debt market, controlling for companies with the same profile. To the matter of control, we do not find evidence that cost to maintain the company listed nor the liquidity are determinant. / A partir de uma amostra de 119 empresas que deslistaram voluntariamente no período de 1999 a 2013, investigamos problemas de agência e acesso a capital como possíveis determinantes no fechamento de capital, controlando para custo de manter a empresa listada, sub-avaliação, tamanho e liquidez na bolsa. Proxies relacionadas a problemas de agência, tais como maior concentração de propriedade, combinado com menor retorno sobre ativos, possuem forte influência na deslistagem das ações, além de fluxo de caixa livre e distribuição de dividendos. Quanto ao uso de mercado de capitais para acesso a follow on, bem como acesso a dívida, encontramos que as empresas que deslistam possuem menor necessidade de acesso ao mercado de dívida, controlando para empresas com mesmo perfil. Para efeito de controle, não encontramos evidência de que custo de se manter listada nem que a liquidez sejam determinantes.

The relevance or irrelevance of dividend payments has been the topic of much discussion for the past eight decades. The primary objective of this study was to determine the relationship between dividend policy and agency problems of financial services companies listed on the (JSE). Dividend Policy and the Agency Theory underpinned the study. Secondary data of sampled listed financial companies for the period 2005-2016 was sourced from IRESS database. Data was analysed using EViews version 9. The results revealed that the presence of institutional ownership resolves the asymmetry information problems, and, reduces the need to pay dividends. The results also revealed that 54.69% of JSE listed companies under the financials’ services sector practise dividend decisions. The results further revealed that the dividend payout ratio is positively correlated with ROE and LEV, and negatively correlated INST, DIRS and FOREIGN variables. The results confirmed the existence of agency problems on listed financial services companies. / Ukubaluleka okanye ukungabaluleki kokuhlawula izahlulo bekusoloko kusisihloko sengxoxo kumashumi asibhozo eminyaka edluleyo. Injongo ephambili yesi sifundo yayikukufumanisa ulwalamano phakathi komgaqo nkqubo wezahlulelo neengxaki zobumeli (ubuarhente) beenkampani ezinikezela ngeenkonzo zemicimbi yoqoqosho nezidweliswe kwiJohannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE). Izisekelo zesi sifundo nguMgaqo Nkqubo Wezahlulo (Dividend Policy) neNgcingane Yobumeli (Agency Theory). Iqela lesibini ledatha yeenkampani ezidwelisiweyo kwiminyaka ye-2005– 2016 yafunyanwa kwiqula leedatha elaziwa ngokuba yi-IRESS database. Idatha yahlalutywa ngokusebenzisa isixhobo sohlalutyo iEViews version 9. Iziphumo zadiza ukuba ubukho babanini kwiziko loshishino buyazisombulula iingxaki zonxibelelwano olungalingani kakuhle kwaye kuyasicutha isidingo sokuhlawula izahlulo. Kwakhona, iziphumo zadiza ukuba ama-54.69% eenkampani ezidweliswe kwiJSE, phantsi kodidi lweenkampani ezinikezela ngeenkonzo zemicimbi yoqoqosho, enza izigqibo zezahlulo. Iziphumo zaphinda zadiza ukuba intlawulo yezahlulo ihambelana kakuhle neenqobo zeROE neLEV, kanti azihambelani neenqobo zeINST, ezeDIRS kunye nekuthiwa ziFOREIGN. Ezi ziphumo zangqina ukuba kukho iingxaki zobumeli/ubuarhente kwiinkampani ezinikezela ngeenkonzo zemicimbi yoqoqosho / Bonnete le go se be bonnete ga ditefelo tša letseno e bile hlogo ya ditherišano tše dintši mo mo dingwagasome tše seswai tša go feta. Nepo ya motheo ya thuto ye ke go ela kamano gare ga pholisi le mathata a dikhamphani tša ditirelo tša Matlotlo tšeo di lego lenaneong la Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE). Pholisi ya Ditseno le Teori ya Etšensi ke motheo wa thuto ye. Datha ya magareng ya dikhamphani tša mašeleng tšeo di lego lenaneong la paka ya 2005–2016 e be e hwetšagala go tšwa go lenaneo la datha la IRESS. Datha e sekasekilwe go šomišwa EViews version 9. Dipoelo di utullotše gore go ba gona ga bong ka gare ga sehlongwa go rarolla mathata a tshedimošo ya go se lekalekane, le go fokotša nyakego ya go lefa mašokotšo. Dipoelo le tšona di tšweleditše go re diperesente tše 54.69 tša dikhamphani tšeo di lego lenaneong la JSE ka fase ga ditirelo tša sekgao sa go phethagatša diphetho tša mašokotšo. Dipoelo di tšwetša pele go utulla go re ditekanyetšo tša ditefelo tša mašokotšo du sepelelana gabotse le ROE le LEV, le go sepelelana gannyane le INST, DIRS le FOREIGN. Dipoelo di netefatša go ba gona ga mathata a Etšensi ao a ngwadilwego lenaneong la dikhamphani tša ditirelo tša mašeleng / Abstracts in English, Zulu, Sepedi / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)